Around The Up North Combine 14-06-16

Details: Published: 20 June 2014; Hits: 770

Around The Up North Combine

Second Federation Win of The Season

For Craig Wedgewood

By Good Corn

Friday the 6th May saw the Up North Combine members basket their birds for Rivenhall (1), the first transporter pulled onto the liberation site at 2.00am Saturday morning, with the final wagon parking up at 3:05am. Come 07:30am the conditions were good at the race point but the line of flight was very poor, the conditions were excellent at the race point at 09:00am but poor at the home end with some areas reporting very poor visibility, due to the East wind but the forecaster did say the visibility would improve. When 10:30am arrived the conditions were still excellent at the race point with improvement in some parts of the home end, by 11:00am the home end and some parts of the line of flight was not acceptable, so Chief Convoyer Steve Proffit decided to holdover. The birds were fed at 2:00pm with the waters constantly monitored and topped up, and refreshed at 4:00pm. At 07:30am on Sunday 8th May the conditions were very good and on the line of flight except for the home end, the forecaster was confident that the fog would burn off and recede back. The Convoyer needed to see more improvement at the home end and was in constant contact with the home end and parts of the line of flight. The sun was trying to break through at 08:45am, but not enough and come 09:00am blue skies were appearing in the Coquetdale area and spreading South. 10:00am brought good reports from all areas from Reed, Peterborough, Grantham, Worksop, Doncaster, Hull, York, Weatherby, Selby, Thirsk and the home end with slight patches of mist hanging on the coastal areas. At that Steve Proffit commenced cutting the strings with Groups 1, 4 and 6 being liberated at 10:20am into a East wind with good visibility, very little cloud, blue skies and sunshine and the second of the two cuts which were Groups 2, 3 and 5 were up and away at 10:50am, with both liberation Groups clearing excellently.

The inform Craig Wedgewood records his third consecutive win and fourth win from five races at Marske & New Marske, with the red card winner being the same 5y blue flipey John Whittaker cock that won 1st Club, 17th Fed Peterborough (1) the previous week. With a top vel of 1604 the cock went onto win a most impressive 1st East Cleveland Federation from a 78 member’s entry of 1,929 birds. This is Craig’s second Fed win of the season for the lad won 1st Club, 1st Fed out of Selby when there were 1,983 birds competing, with the winner being from John Whittaker. Craig who is only racing a very small team of widowhood cocks has being very successful with birds obtained from John, good honest Pigeons that are topping the Fed at 5y. The late Jack “The Lad” Brown & Tony Hunt are back in the frame in 2nd spot with Tony’s blue card scoring yearling blue roundabout hen being a Granddaughter to his “SED Cock” who has provided a number of winners and other birds to score minor positions for Tony and for others. Jimmy Read filled a couple of cells to lift 3rd and 5th Club with the green card being awarded to a 3y blue pied roundabout hen of Brown & Hunt bloodlines, and second on the clock was a 4y blue chequer roundabout cock who has a number of positions to his name. Club Secretary Marten Hogarth chalks up 4th place with the yellow card potter being a 2014 bred blue hen who won 2 x 1st Oakham in 2015, with the cocks Oakham (4) win seeing him scoring 11th Fed when there were 1,009 birds competing.

DES WILLIAMS

It give me great pleasure to say that the Skelton Green loft of Des Williams and loft helper Roger Wall timed no fewer than three of their entries to win a well-deserved and an outstanding 1st, 3rd and 4th Club from a twelve members muster of 382 birds. With pole position being won by a 2y Huysken Van Riel cock bred by Mr & Mrs Coleman of Ireland for the Loftus West Road Championship Club Breeder/Buyer, with the two lads chart-topper achieving a well out in front vel of 1595 to go onto score a very impressive 2nd Fed. The green card was awarded to a 2014 bred blue Pearson & Dransfield Busschaert cock knocking up a vel of 1526.7 to lift 19th Fed. And then 1 second behind the blue card potter in the yellow card position was a 2y chequer Janssen hen making 1526.6 to pocket 20th Fed; the hen who was sitting eggs is paired to the duo’s winner. Derek Winspear & Son Mark had a couple of their team on the clock to lift 2nd and 5th Club with the blue card going to a yearling blue Ype Hemstra hen on 1552 for a notable 8th Fed. Derek & Mark’s second timer was a 2y blue Herman x Roland Janssen hen who wins 1st Club Show and £16.00. Bill Chapman, Sons Steve & Colin and the late Tommy Swinburne had a trio of birds in the clock with their first timer being a 3y that nets 6th Club, the next couple of timers were both yearlings with the first winning the £10.00 Lucky Number prize and the second yearling nets £9.60 for claiming 2nd Club Show. Benno “Terry” & Daniel Bennison of the Roche, Bennison & Crame partnership timed a 4y to pocket £6.40 for 3rd Club Show.

Moving onto the Brotton Six Bird Club where the partnership of Kevin & Merv Brown & Sacker “Bill” Cole wins pole position, with the lads well out in front red card winner being a 2y blue Heremans Ceusters cock bred by K & K Homer & D & P Williams of Grangetown fame achieving a chart-topping vel of 1576 to score a top-notch 5th Fed. Kevin, his Father Merv & Sacker’s winning blue cock chalked up 4th Club the previous week out of Peterborough (1). The Right Honourable Vic Garbutt, the late Brian “Rusty” Stone & Brian “Mac” McCormick comes into the frame in 2nd position, with the blue card being awarded to a 3y blue hen bred by Tony Hunt of Marske. Frank & Brenda Reilly & Son Wayne timed a couple of their entries to lift 3rd and 4th Club with the green card being potted by a 2y chequer Heremans Ceusters x Marcellis hen that was 3rd Club the week before from Peterborough (1). Frank, Brenda & Wayne’s second timer was a yearling Heremans Ceusters cock who is the previous winner of young bird Worksop (2) and the Club Bird Of The Year.

Next stop is Skinningrove H/S where we see the loft of Tich Richards & Alice Marsay top the Club charts from a thirteen members entry of 457 birds, with the red card being won by a yearling achieving a top vel of 1539 which was enough to chalk up 12th Fed. Tich and his Granddaughter Alice’s winner that is out of the Brother and Sister partnership of Steve & Sheila Trattles of Loftus good pair with one of them winning 4 x 1st Clubs while its mate is the winner of 1 x 1st and 3 x 3rd Clubs. A full Sister to Tich & Alice’s winner is the previous scorer of 4th Club, 6th Fed young bird Maidstone National where she won £160.00 in the Loftus West Road Championship Club Sponsorship and £90.00 in the Loftus H/S ring scheme. Darren Sayers pockets his second prize card of the season after timing a yearling blue Soontjen cock doing 1529 to lift 2nd Club, 16th Fed, with the blue card potter being the same cock who netted 4th Club, 17th Fed out of Newark. The cock is a gift bird bred by Dave Jones & Kirsty Carkett of Brotton through the bloodlines of their 2001 2nd Up North Combine Brussels (3) Silver Medal winning “Mark” when there were 15,572 birds competing. Steve Winspear & Son Ty comes into the frame in 3rd spot with the duo’s green card scorer being a 2y homebred blue chequer cock of John Fretwell lines doing 1519 for 21st Fed. White Bros, Malc & Stuart the 1st Club, 4th Fed Oakham (1) winners are in 4th position with the yellow card potter being a 2y blue hen bred by Blackburn & Son for the Loftus West Road Championship Breeder/Buyer. Sayers Bros Kenny, Dave & Brian are next with a 3y homebred Smits Van Winkle widowhood hen and they were quickly followed by Mike Prokopowicz & Son Lee who timed a yearling blue hen bred out of their Wayne Doonan of Cockrow Lofts stock.

News from the Loftus West Road Championship Club where Derek Winspear & Son Mark of Skelton Green wins 1st to bank £150.00 prize money, while Clubmates Bill Chapman, Sons Colin & Steve and the late Tommy Swinburne net 2nd to pocket £120.00. B & K Simpson of Skinningrove chalk up 3rd with Brian & Keith netting £90.00, with Clubmates White Bros Malc & Stuart taking 4th and £60.00. It was good to see the forever trying Leather Bros of Lingdale lift 5th with Albert & Tony claiming the £30.00 prize money.

Onto the Teesside Federation where we start with Middlesbrough H/S, the loft of Mr & Mrs Stephen and Jeanann Wheatley achieved their fourth straight win of the season after timing a couple of their squad to win 1st and 4th Club from a eight members entry of 240 birds. The well out in front well-fancied yearling blue hen who was fourteen minutes in front of the next Club Pigeon racked up a top vel of 1644 to win an outstanding 1st 3 Bird Club, 1st 2 Bird Championship Club, 1st Fed Nom and 1st Fed from an entry of 753 birds and also going onto to win a most impressive 1st Section 5 from a convoy of 5,456 birds. Stephen & Jeanann’s yellow card potter was a 2015 bred blue cock doing 1510 for 20th Fed. The partnership of the late Les Wellburn & Sons Les & Derek timed a 1y chequer cock making 1539 to lift 2nd Club, 15th Fed, the Brothers clocked a later bird to net 2nd 3 Bird Club. Jack Burton & Son Steve come into the frame in 3rd sport with the lads green card scoring 3y chequer pied hen knocking out a vel of 1521 to go onto claim 19th Fed.

The Billingham T U partnership of Tommy Clark & Son Gary’s winning run continues after timing a couple of their inform team to win an impressive 1st and 2nd Club, 2nd and 5th Fed, 6th and 15th Section with vels of 1606 and 1582. With the red card winner being a yearling chequer hen, while the blue card scorer was a 2015 bred blue hen who notched up 17th Fed out of Peterborough (1) the previous week when beaten by four loftmates that won 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th Club, 1st, 3rd, 5th and 8th Fed, 1st and 10th Section 5 when there were 5,811 birds competing. Tommy & Gary have really got their birds on blob this season with the duo winning a brilliant 4 x 1st Clubs, 3 x 1st Feds and 1 x 1st Section so far.

Ali McLeod timed no fewer than ten of his entries to chalk up a notable 3rd and 4th Club, 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 17th and 18th Fed with vels of 1581, 1579, 1570, 1567, 1556, 1550, 1542, 1539, 1528 and 1526. With the green card being awarded to a 2y chequer cock that went onto lift 17th Section, the cock who won 1st Club, 1st Fed Oakham (5) last season had to be picked up and put on the pad when he arrived due to dehydration, Ali has never seen a Pigeon in all his 45 years of racing arrive as bad as he did from a 200 mile race and Ali is unsure if the cock will be any good for future racing. The yellow card was chalked up by a yearling chequer cock who flew well as a young bird where he won some of the Z Ring prize money, the young cock who is through Mac’s old Koen Minderhoud birds still has not fully recovered 2 weeks after the race. Third on the clock was a 1y hen who returned ok, she is out of a cock who is the previous scorer of 9th UNC when paired to a Daughter of Ali’s number 1 hen. She was followed by a 2y blue cock who netted 2nd Club, 2nd Fed and 2nd Section the previous week out of Peterborough (1), the cock who is half Brother to Ali’s outstanding stock cock “King James” has 2 x 2nd, 1 x 3rd and 1 x 4th Fed to his name. Next came a yearling blue Jan Hooymans hen who is a Grandson of the famous “Harry”, and she was followed by a 2015 bred blue cock who contains all of Ali’s winning bloodlines. With his Sire being a full Brother to the Sire of Mac’s 1st UNC Gold Medal winner, while the Dam is full Sister to Ali’s 2nd UNC Silver Medal winner. All of Ali’s team are in bits after returning from the race and he is really going to have to pick through the bones of them for the rest of the season because some of the Pigeons will never be the same. Ali had one bird die on return from the race and he had to give four cocks to a new starter because of their poor condition on their return home from the race, Ali had 29 of his 56 entries home on the night and until this day the lad is still 12 missing which is a big hit for anyone. Steve Wilson timed a couple of birds to chalk up a useful 8th and 13th Fed with the first timer being a 2y achieving a vel of 1572, second on the clock was a 3y knocking out a vel of 1548.

Onto the rest of the Section 5 result where Dennis Blakey of the Shotton & Trimdon Fed netted 2nd Section on 1639 and he was followed by the partnership of Long, Brown & Son who pocketed 3rd Section on 1630. The Hetton Fed loft of H Petre, Son & Grandson had a couple of birds on the clock to take a very nice 4th and 8th Section on 1614 and 1605. W Balls & Sons also had two birds in the frame to lift 5th and 10th Section on 1606 and 1590. While Wandless & Son netted 7th Section doing 1605.9 and the partnership of Lithgow & Son claimed 16th Section with a vel of 1582. Jimmy Appleton of Haverton Hill lifts 3rd Teesside Fed and 9th Section on 1601 and Hodge & Potter of the Beechwood & Easterside claim 4th Fed and 11th Section with a vel of 1587.8. The Tees Valley clan take three positions with Mr & Mrs Lynch & Son winning 1st Fed, 12th Section doing 1587.7 and they were flowed by Les Reece of Eaglescliffe who achieved a vel of 1586 potted 2nd Fed, 13th Section, and next came Nick Lyth who netted 3rd Fed, 14th Section on 1583.

The Up North Combine liberated the convoy of 7,474 birds at 07:00 in a light South-West wind from the Folkestone (1) National on Sunday 15th May. The birdage was down a massive 10,944 birds on the 2015 race which was one hell of a drop. Numerous of members and I know of one Club gave the first Classic race of the season a miss due to their birds still been ill after returning from the previous weeks Rivenhall (1) race. Most of the members that did send could only muster up a skeleton crew and to be honest some of the birds that were kept off will struggle in future races due to the illness taking some time to clear. We had five 2y that never looked right at all with one cock taking a few days before he stopped bringing his corn up, as for the hens they took a couple of days longer before they started to digest their corn and over a week before they even flew on their perch. It was another week before we even let them out of the loft they just seemed they were never going to recover despite everything we tried to help them through it but they seem to have got over it now.

Reg Wilson, Ray Mole & Partners of Brotton H/S who are flying an outstanding Pigeon this season were the winners of an most impressive 1st Club, 1st East Cleveland Federation from a 38 members entry of 490 birds, 1st £ and £2 Fed Nom banking £49.00, 2nd Section and 2nd UNC winning a Silver Medal with a vel of 1508.

The Skinningrove partnership of Sayers Bros Kenny, Dave & Brian record their second win of the season after timing a couple of birds to win 1st and 3rd Club from a six members entry of 59 birds. With top spot being won by a yearling Smits Van Winkle cross widowhood hen doing 1483 to chalk up a notable 3rd Fed which was good enough to claim 13th UNC but the position is subject to objection due to the misunderstanding of the registration of the bird. The green card was awarded to a 3y widowhood cock bred by Robert Mallinson of Whitby fame doing 1436 to net 14th Fed, 69th Combine. Ian Stafford & Mark “Sparky” Wilson timed a yearling to pocket 2nd Club, 12th Fed and 53rd UNC on 1441. Mike Prokopowicz & Son Lee clocked a 2y chequer hen bred by Wayne Doonan of Cockrow Lofts to chalk up 4th Club, 20th Fed on 1399. The hen is a previous 1st Fed winner and also has other positions to her credit. B & K Simpson timed a couple of Louis Cooremans to take the next two positions with Brian & Keith’s first timer being a 2y hen that netted 5th Club out of Peterborough (1).

The number of members sending and entries also tumbled at Skelton Green where the partnership of Bill Chapman, Sons Steve & Colin and the late Tommy Swinburne hit the winners’ enclosure from a six members entry of 111 birds. With top spot being won by a yearling Wildemeersch knocking out a top vel of 1481 which was enough to chalk up a very nice 4th Fed and 13th UNC. The lads winner is in the clock for the fourth consecutive race after notching up 19th Fed out of Oakham (1) and that was followed up a week later by scoring 3rd Club, 14th Fed from Peterborough (1) and then took 29th Fed at Rivenhall (1). Alan & David Wright timed two yearling Herman Sisters to lift 2nd and 5th Club on 1477 and 1394, with the blue card potter who chalked up 2nd Club, 7th Fed Selby on the opening day of the season going onto to net 5th Fed this time around. Alan & David Wright timed a couple of yearling Herman hen Sisters to lift 2nd and 5th Club on 1477 and 1394, with the blue card potter that took 2nd Club, 7th Fed out of Selby (Bubwith) on the opening day of the season, netting 5th Fed and 40th UNC. Derek Winspear & Son Mark are in 3rd spot with the duo’s green card scorer being a fancied yearling blue chequer Busschaert x Mornick De Neve hen making 1463 which was enough to lift 8th Fed, 3rd £2 Fed Nom netting £14.40 and 27th UNC. The hen is the previous winner of 1st Club, 7th Fed young bird Maidstone National from a convoy of 1,226 birds. Ian “Evo” Everington had two of his entries on the clock to pocket 4th and 6th Club with the yellow card being awarded to a 3y chequer Rietvink x De Rauw Sablon cock of Galaxy Lofts bloodlines making 1408 for 18th Fed and 159th Combine. The cock is no stranger in the clock for he won 1st Club, 14th Fed young bird Worksop and then notched up 6th Club Eastbourne National in 2014. In 2015 he netted 130th UNC Lillers when a loftmate won 1st Club, 1st Fed, 2nd Section and 2nd UNC out of an entry of 14,062 birds. The cock then potted 3rd Club, 14th Fed Reims when beaten by a loftmate that won 1st Club, 1st Fed and 60th UNC from a convoy of 3,887 birds. The inform cock finished off his 2015 season in fantastic style when he won a earth-shattering 1st Club, 1st Fed, 1st Section banking £122.71 in prize money and 5th UNC Burbure when there were 10,617 birds competing. Evo’s second timer was a 3yo blue Koopman x Van Loon x Rietvink cock who is the previous scorer of a 2nd Club.

Moving onto the Brotton Six Bird Club where the partnership of Kevin & Merv Brown & Sacker “Bill” Cole wins pole position with the lads red card winner being a well-fancied 4y chequer flipey Jan Huybrect hen from Bowers & Son of Loftus bloodlines recording a chart-topping vel of 1475 to go onto score a well-deserved 6th Fed, 2nd £2 Fed Nom, 1st £5 Fed Nom pocketing a total of £66.60 in prize money and 16th UNC. The chart-topper is the previous winner of 1st Club, 25th Fed Folkestone (2) National in 2015 when there were 945 birds competing. The partnership of Andrew & Gavin Doe, Dillon “John” Swales and the late Sandy Sanderson timed two of their squad to net 2nd and 4th Club with the blue card going to a yearling Herman x Van Loon of Bill Heslop bloodlines achieving a vel of 1454 to claim a very nice 9th Fed and 36th UNC. Andrew, Gavin & Dillon’s second timer was a 5yo chequer pied Andre Clements cock from Willie Donohue of Fife who has already netted 2nd Club Newark and 4th Club Oakham (1) this season, the cock also won 1st Club, 26th Fed Oakham (2) last season from a convoy of 1,335 birds. Frank & Brenda Reilly & Son Wayne are in 3rd position with their green card scoring 2y Heremans Ceusters x Marcellis chequer hen achieving a vel of 1411 to go onto pocket a notable 17th Fed and 152nd Combine. The hen who won 1st Club, 4th Fed Oakham (4) last season out of an entry of 1,009 birds is chalking for the second time this season after taking 3rd Club Peterborough (1).

ALI McLEOD

The Marske & New Marske members gave this race a miss due to the previous weeks Rivenhall (1) race, like numerous UNC fanciers they too had birds return from the race suffering ill health.

Ali McLeod returned to his winning ways in outstanding style at Billingham T U after timing no fewer than seven of his squad to win a top-notch 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Club, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 12th and 20th Teesside Federation out of an entry of 204 birds. Pole position was won by a yearling blue hen recording a top vel of 1448.3 to go onto score 3rd Section 5 out of 1,333 birds and 41st UNC. The chart-topper who was pooled in the Club and also won 1st Fed Pools banking £50.00 is the previous winner of 1st Club, 1st Fed young bird Pontefract (1) from a convoy of 939 birds and then took 4th Club, 9th Fed Worksop (1) the following week when there were 1,318 birds competing. The red card winning hen is a pure Gaby Vandenabeele who is from a Daughter of Ali’s old “McClaren” cock of M & D Evans who is a Grandson of Gaby’s “Wittenbuik”. One - second behind the winner in the blue card position was a 2015 bred blue hen doing 1448.2 which was enough to chalk up 2nd Fed Pools netting £30.00, 4th Section and 42nd UNC; Ali really rates this hen as her Dam is a full Sister to the Sire of his 1st UNC Gold Medal winner. The two well-fancied hens won all the money in both the Club and Fed banking over £200.00 in pools and prize money. The green card was awarded to a 1y blue hen doing 1425.3 to pocket 104th UNC, with the Sire of the hen being the nestmate to the winner. The yellow card was chalked up by a yearling blue hen making 1416 for 130th UNC, she is the nest Sister to the hen that took 9th Fed out of Rivenhall (1) the previous race. Ali’s fifth timer was 1y blue hen doing 1411 for 146th Combine. Ali only sent 19 hens to the race as his cocks have not got over the Rivenhall (1) race; a lot of UNC fanciers are in the same boat with a number of them probably not going to be right for the rest of the season. The loft of Tommy Clark & Son Gary had four yearlings on the clock to notch up 10th, 14th, 15th and 17th Fed on 1404, 1394, 1390 and 1388, with the duo’s first timer going onto net 182nd UNC. The partnership of Brian Atkinson & Keith Perkins timed a couple of their entries to pocket 13th and 19th Fed with their first timer being a 3y making 1395 while second on the clock was a yearling knocking up a vel of 1376.

The inform Middlesbrough H/S loft of Mr & Mrs Stephen & Jeanann Wheatley recorded their fifth consecutive win of the season after timing a couple of birds to win 1st and 2nd Club with their pole position winner being a well-fancied yearling achieving a top vel of 1425.8 to win 1st 3 Bird Club and 1st 2 Bird Championship Club, 4th Fed, 1st Fed Nom and 102nd UNC. The blue card was awarded to a 1y making 1408 for 8th Fed; a couple of later birds were timed to take 2nd and 3rd 3 Bird Club. The late Les Wellburn & Sons Les & Derek had two of their team on the clock to take 3rd and 4th Club with the green card scoring yearling knocking up a vel of 1388 to pot 16th Fed. Les & Derek also timed a fancied later bird to lift 2nd 2 Bird Championship Club. The Beechwood & Easterside partnership of McCarthy, Son & Profitt hits the winners’ enclosure with the lads pole position winning yearling achieving a top vel of 1379 to chalk up 18th Fed.

Now for the rest of the Section 5 result, the Haverton Hill loft of Andrew Appleton & Paul Longstaff win an outstanding 1st, 2nd and 3rd Club, 1st, 9th and 11th Teesside Fed and 1st Section 5 winning £149.82 in prize money, 6th and 178th Up North Combine with vels of 1487, 1406 and 1396. The dam of Andrew & Paul’s winner was bred by Ali McLeod; I hope you phoned Ali to let him know Paul. The loft of Steve Thornton & Family of Eaglescliffe, Tees Valley Fed timed three of their squad to lift a notable 2nd, 7th and 13th Section, 17th, 61st and 82nd UNC on 1474, 1438 and1431. Clubmate Harry Wright & Son achieved a vel of 1438.4 to chalk up 8th Section and 64th Combine; with fellow Fed members Mr & Mrs Gibson of Stockton netting 11th Section, 71st UNC on 1435.5 while Craggs Bros & Son notched up 16th Section and 85th Combine on 1430. Hetton & District Fed claimed four Section positions with Atkinson & Son winning 1st Fed, 5th Section and 47th UNC on 1446; while the loft of Mr & Mrs Burn pocketed 2nd Fed, 6th Section, 48th UNC with a vel of 1445. The inform partnership of W Balls & Sons knocked up a vel of 1429.2 to take 18th Section, 91st UNC, these lads have really got their birds on song this season with them achieving a number of top loft performances. The boys started the season by taking 8th Fed out of Selby (Bubwith) when there were 1,172 birds away, and followed that up by winning a top-notch 1st, 3rd, 9th, 10th, 12th and 20th Fed from Newark when there were 1,354 birds competing. A week later when the birds were at Oakham (1) the partnership won a very impressive 1st, 4th and 9th Fed out of 1,425 birds, Fed win number three from four races was recorded at Peterborough (1) when a cracking 1st, 3rd and 12th Fed was won from an entry of 1,411 birds. The lads enjoyed a very good clocking day at Rivenhall (1) when no fewer than seven of their team were timed to win an awesome 2nd, 5th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th and 17th Fed when there were 1,264 birds away. And then this week out of Eastbourne they took 3rd, 7th, 9th and 20th Fed from 282 birds to keep up their very good form. Back to the Eastbourne Section 5 result, we see the loft of D Birt coming into the frame to claim a notable 4th Fed, 20th Section, and 99th Combine on 1426. The Shotton & Trimdon Fed fanciers took the remaining seven positions with the partnership of Stones & Son of Wingate taking 9th Section and 65th UNC on 1438.1, while Clubmates Thompson & Sons timed a couple of their team to lift 10th and 17th Section, 68th and 90th UNC with vels of 1436 and 1429.4. The Trimdon Colliery H/S loft of J Raynor & Son chalked up 12th Section, 72nd UNC doing 1435.4 and Long, Brown & Son of Thornley netted 14th Section and 83rd UNC on 1431.3; while Heavyside & Wilkes where close behind to take 15th Section, 84th UNC on 1431.1 and F Hood potted 19th Section and 94th Combine on 1428 to round off the Section result.

Race number seven of the season took place from Oakham (2) on Sunday 22nd May where we see the loft of Craig Wedgewood keeping up his very impressive run at Marske & New Marske after timing his 5y blue chequer John Whittaker blue widowhood cock to record a red card winning vel of 1563 to go onto score an impressive 3rd East Cleveland Federation from a 77 members entry of 1,456 birds. The cock has a number of good positions to his credit including 1st Club, 24th Fed Oakham in 2012. Geoff Bavin enjoyed a good clocking day after filling no less than three cells to lift 2nd, 4th and 5th Club with the blue card going to a 2y chequer pied Rutland Lofts roundabout hen making 1537 to pocket 19th Fed. The yellow card was netted by a 2014 bred blue roundabout hen out of Geoff’s Schoorisse family that have done well for him over the years, and she was followed by her dark hen Sister. Jimmy Reed pockets 3rd position with Jimmy’s green card potter being a yearling chequer white flight Homer & Williams x Brown & Hunt/own strain roundabout cock who won 1st Club Oakham as a young bird.

The Skelton Green loft of Bill Chapman, Sons Colin & Steve and the late Tommy Swinburne recorded their second win off the belt when they timed two of their entries to win 1st and 5th Club. With top spot being won by a 2y chequer Wildemeersch widowhood cock recording a winning vel of 1548 to chalk up 12th Fed. Second on the clock was a 3y Wildemeersch cock who wins the £10 Lucky Number prize. Alan & David Wright are in 2nd place with the blue card being netted by a yearling blue flipey Herman x Busschaert hen making 1539 for 16th Fed. The loft of Bowden Bros Mick & Boss and loft helper Trevor “Wine Gum” Mitchell had three of their timers in the frame to lift 3rd, 4th and 6th Club with the green and yellow card potters that touched down together being Kavanagh Busschaert hens.

Onto Skinningrove where the loft of Mike Prokopowicz & Son Lee timed two yearlings to win 1st and 6th Club with the red card winner that was bred by Chris Vasey achieving a top vel of 1559 which was enough to chalk up a notable 6th Fed. Sayers Bros took 2nd Club, 14th Fed with a 2y making 1541. The partnership of Tich Richards & Alice Marsay timed a yearling to net 3rd Club, 15th Fed on 1540, with the green card potter being the Sisters to Tich & Alice’s 1st Club, 12th Fed Rivenhall (1) winner. The loft of Mr & Mrs Ian & Liz Purver timed a yearling to chalk up 4th Club and they were followed by B & K Simpson who timed a yearling Louis Cooreman hen.

Frank & Brenda Reilly & Son Wayne returned to their winning ways at the Brotton Six Bird Club after timing a couple of their squad to win a top-notch 1st and 2nd Club. Topping the charts for Frank, Brenda & Wayne the Clubs top prize winners in 2015 was a 2014 bred chequer Heremans Ceusters hen. The blue card was awarded to a 2y blue Heremans Ceusters cock. The right honourable Vic Garbutt, the late Brian “Rusty” Stone and Brian “Mac” McCormick return to the frame in 3rd slot with the lads green card potter being their blue hen bred by Tony Hunt of Marske that chalked up 2nd Club out of Rivenhall (1). The Son and Father partnership of Kevin & Merv Brown & Sacker “Bill” Cole claim 4th Club with the lads timer being a first time scoring 2y dark cock.

The Teesside Federations entry of 567 birds were liberated at 09:30hrs with the Billingham T U loft of Tommy Clark & Son Gary really going to town after timing no fewer than nine of their inform team to win an outstanding 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Club, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 14th, 15th and 16th Fed, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 18th and 19th Section 5 from a convoy of 3,701 birds with vels of 1575, 1573, 1569, 1553.6, 1553.3, 1543, 1542 and 1541. The pole position winning yearling is chalking for the third time this season after netting 17th Fed Selby and 11th Fed Oakham (1). The blue card potter that was timed 10 seconds after the winner was a 2y and so too was the green card lifter that potted 8th Fed out of Peterborough (1). Tommy & Gary’s fourth timer was their well-fancied 2y who wins 1st Fed Nom and is the previous winner of 1st Club, 1st Fed and 2nd Section Oakham (1), as well on many other positions in 2015. The lads fifth timer was a yearling that took 20th Fed from Peterborough (1). Steve Wilson returns to the frame after timing a couple of birds to take a useful 12th and 17th Fed with his first timer being a 3y blue cock doing 1543.9. The cock is chalking for the third time this season after scoring an impressive 2nd Club, 3rd Fed, 1st Fed Nom and 10th Section Oakham (1). A week later when the birds were at Peterborough (1) the blue cock netted a notable 6th Club, 6th Fed and 1st Fed Nom. Steve’s second timer was a 2013 blue cock knocking out a vel of 1525. The cock notched up 13th Fed out of Rivenhall (1).

The Middlesbrough H/S loft of the late Les Wellburn & Sons Les & Derek enjoyed a good clocking day after timing no fewer than four of their entries to win 1st, 3rd, 4th and 6th Club from an eight members entry of 195 birds. Topping the charts was a yearling achieving a top vel of 1560 which was enough to chalk up a notable 4th Fed and 12th Section. The yearling in 3rd spot knocked up a vel of 1544 to claim 11th Fed and 6 seconds later came another yearling doing 1543 for 13th Fed; and the lads fourth timer a 2y had a vel of 1520 for 20th Fed. Les & Derek timed a later fancied bird to lift 2nd 2 Bird Championship Club. Mr & Mrs Stephen & Jeanann Wheatley clocked a couple of yearlings to pocket 2nd and 5th Club, 9th and 18th Fed on 1547 and 1525. The duo timed a later bird to take 2nd 3 Bird Club Nom. Jack Burton & Son Steve wins 1st 3 Bird Club Nom while D Hutchinson & Son lift 3rd 3 Bird Club Nom and also win 1st 2 Bird Championship Club.

As always I will finishing off with the remaining Section 5 result starting at Stockton where the loft of Rowbotham & Son wins a most impressive 1st Tees Valley Fed and 1st Section with a pole position winning vel of 1576 from a convoy of 3,701 birds. While fellow Fed member Nick Lyth of Thornaby who has flown a very good Pigeon for a great number of years scores a notable 6th Section on 1565. The Wingate partnership of Brewster Bros & Son were the winners of a very pleasing 1st Shotton & Trimdon Fed and 5th Section on 1566 and they were followed by Richardson & Son doing 1563 to pocket 7th Section. While F Hood claimed 8th Section on 1562 and next came G Church making 1561 to net 9th Section and then Thompson & Sons timed a couple of their entries 1 second apart to knock out vels of 1560.8 and 1560.7 to lift 10th and 11th Section. The loft of Bell & Foster took 14th Section on 1558 while P Price potted 20th Section on 1552. Onto the Teesside Fed where the Beechwood & Easterside partnership of Keith Hodge & Denis Potter scored 5th Fed and 13th Section on 1559. Finally we go to the Hetton Fed where the chart-topping Lithgow & Son chalks up 15th Section on 1556 while the inform loft of W Balls & Sons had two of their team drop together to lift 16th and 17th Section with vels of 1555.

What with put back races and a couple of Combine races some of the info is taking longer to get to me, and some of it is not getting through at all. I can understand this but it is putting me behind my reports, so please can you forward any details to me asap. Don’t be shy put plenty in.